5 shops to visit in Pioneer Square during the Viaduct Closure

The viaduct closure may be a traffic nightmare for the city, but it also presents a fabulous opportunity for Seattleites to take a second look at the shops in their own backyard in an effort to support small business owners in their neighborhood. There are many independently-owned businesses that will be hit hard during the #realign99 project, and many of them can't count on e-commerce alone to float them through the next few weeks, so if you live near Pioneer Square please consider checking out one of these cool local businesses. BONUS: Every single one of these shops listed below is woman-owned.

flora & henri
Stop in at General Porpoise for a donut before heading to flora & henri to discover new arrivals for the season. flora & henri stocks a beautiful assortment of global brands for men, women, kids, and home. flora & henri was established in 1998 when founder Jane Hedreen opened her first store in Seattle selling exclusively childrenswear that she designed in-house. Since then, the private label assortment has grown and the store has expanded to include merchandise for men, women, and home.
401 First Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 (corner of 1st and Jackson)

Velouria
Self-described as a small Seattle shop "chock-full with U.S. and Canadian-made goods", Velouria carries apparel, accessories, apothecary items, and even clothing for kids in their Pioneer Square shop. I'm a fan of the Claw's Out Polish, which seems perfect for the Women's March on Saturday, and I also like the assortment of ceramics. Stop by and make a discovery of your own.
145 S. King St. Seattle, WA 98104

Clementines
Founder Linda Walsh is known for stocking a fabulous assortment of shoes and apparel from a mix of established and emerging designers, but shoppers of Clementines will also find an amazing assortment of vintage merchandise and home decor from their sister shop downstairs, Swan Dive. It's a two-for-one shopping experience and it is not to be missed.
310 Occidental Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104

Drygoods Design
Creatives who are looking for inspiration will enjoy a visit to Drygoods Design to check out their selection of fabrics, cards, tote bags, gifts, and craft supplies. They even offer a range of sewing classes for beginners who are interested in learning the craft. I'm a fan of the cotton/linen space fabric in stock right now, but if you can't sew that's ok too, you can just shop instead.
301 Occidental Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104

Fresh Tangerine
This sweet shops sells delicate jewelry that is lovingly made by hand right in Pioneer Square. The minimalist style of each design is very Pacific Northwest-friendly and the price point is just right too.
89 Yesler Way Seattle, WA 98104

Speaking of Pioneer Square, this would also be a fantastic opportunity to share the news that Jujubeet, Seattle's favorite juice bar and healthy eats cafe, is moving in to the neighborhood next month. They're taking over the old Taco Del Mar location at 1st and Yesler and introducing a new menu. Stay tuned for grand opening details!

Happy Shopping and thanks in advance for keeping it local!

flora & henri concept shop now open in Pioneer Square

After a five-year hiatus from traditional brick-and-mortar retail, Seattle brand flora & henri is back and better than ever. Today marks the grand opening of the new 3,000 square-foot concept store in Pioneer Square featuring an expanded selection of merchandise including womenswear, home goods, shoes, jewelry, children's clothing, gifts, and more.

Originally founded in 1998 by owner/designer Jane Hedreen as a childrenswear line, flora & henri has found a way to survive today's turbulent retail environment. They closed their Capitol Hill location back in 2012 to focus exclusively on wholesale and e-commerce but ultimately, they missed the daily interactions with customers. "We want to offer a personal shopping experience in the midst of big-box retail," says Jane. It's a sentiment that resonates with vendors and customers alike. By focusing on boutique brands with a similar aesthetic, flora & henri has found a way to curate a gorgeous assortment of products while also supporting like-minded brands that believe in timeless quality and craftsmanship.

Featured womenswear brands include Vivien Ramsay, Electric Feathers, Matta Puja, Caron Callahan, Vayarta, and local favorite, Ampersand as Apostrophe. If you're in the market for a new swimsuit, you'll want to check out the flora & henri line, which also corresponds to matching kids suits. Insider tip: If you love denim, you'll be thrilled to know that 6397 is exclusive to flora & henri in Seattle.

For the guys, flora & henri has a variety of gifts and accessories including headphones by aHead, pajamas by UK-brand Derek Rose, Izola dopp kits, shellfish sets, magnetic bike lights, dart boards, and more.

If you're shopping for little ones, flora & henri stocks a beautiful range of apparel, accessories, and toys including their namesake "Essentials" line which is designed in Seattle. The knit tops and bottoms are produced in a local factory. The store also carries an amazing selection of children's shoes.

To round out the shopping experience, flora & henri has carefully curated a selection of home goods including ceramics, linens, books, candles, and even mohair throw pillows. If you're getting married soon, it wouldn't be a stretch to register here for everything on your list. They even have honeycomb bath towels that you never knew you needed and suddenly have to have.

If you miss the days when shopping in the city was truly an experience, you need to check out the new flora & henri store in Pioneer Square. Tell Jane I sent you!

flora & henri

401 First Ave. S. 

Seattle, WA 98104

- Open 7 days a week - 

To learn more about flora & henri, I also invite you to check out the Q&A with flora & henri founder Jane Hedreen over on The Fold. 

Photo credit: Jenna Lynn Fernandez